Why is SLO County on the state’s COVID watch list? Don’t pin the blame on tourists

It’s disappointing to see San Luis Obispo County on the state’s coronavirus watch list — a designation that will likely lead to additional business closures.

But something had to be done to slow the spread, and if that means more state intervention, so be it.

You can’t say we weren’t warned. We were told repeatedly that we might have to “toggle back” on reopening if COVID-19 numbers went up, and that’s exactly what’s happened.

On June 1, there were 271 cases and one death. As of Monday, there were 1,006 cases and five deaths.

Cases were expected to increase when the county reopened, but to this degree?

It’s tempting — though not especially productive — to place the blame on irresponsible behavior.

An especially easy target: Crowds of out-of-towners from places like L.A., Fresno and the Bay Area descending on a county that appeared to have things under control.

They were out in force last weekend in beach towns like Morro Bay, Avila and Pismo, delighted to be in a county where most shops, restaurants, wineries and bars were open for business and things almost seemed back to normal.

Not all them wore masks — even though it was almost impossible to avoid close contact with people on crowded streets and sidewalks.

Failing to wear a mask in a crowded public place, even outdoors, is just plain rude — not to mention illegal — but don’t make clueless visitors the scapegoat.

Indoor spaces, especially ones with poor air circulation, are much more conducive to spreading the virus, health experts say.

In other words, a half-second encounter with an unmasked stranger on an outdoor sidewalk is far less risky than, say, an indoor party with multiple households that goes on for hours. Or running into friends inside a bar and, after a drink or two, forgetting all about social distancing.

If you want to find fault, look there.

From hanging out at bars — which in retrospect, were allowed to reopen too soon in the first place — to attending extended family gatherings and graduation parties, some SLO County folks have taken unnecessary risks.

And don’t get us started on people who have refused, as a matter of principle, to wear masks.

Or people who underestimate how brutal this disease really is. Or believe the young and healthy are somehow invincible. Spend some time reading obituaries of U.S. COVID victims and you’ll soon find that’s not the case.

So yes, individual decisions matter, and when it comes to personal behavior, there’s room for improvement.

But strong leadership matters more, and that’s been lacking at every level.

We expected a fiasco at the federal level, but after a strong start, Gov. Gavin Newsom faltered.

He should have put the brakes on reopening weeks ago, when California’s numbers began to rise so dramatically.

At least he issued a statewide order requiring face coverings — something leaders at the local level lacked the political will to do.

So here we are.

On Monday, the governor issued a closure order for the entire state that includes bars, wineries, tasting rooms and indoor dining, though restaurants will be allowed to remain open for takeout, delivery and outdoor dining.

And since SLO County is expected to remain on the governor’s watch list for three consecutive days — which is the benchmark for more serious consequences — the closure order will extend to fitness centers, places of worship and personal care services likes hair salons and barbershops.

That’s a major blow, especially for businesses that already have experienced huge losses. They’ll continue to need all the support we can offer.

But if ever there was a time to put safety first, this is it, and if that means saying goodbye — for now — to bars and barbershops, wineries and gyms and indoor dining, it’s a price we should all be willing to pay.

This story was originally published July 14, 2020 at 5:00 AM.